Magician&#39;s device



May 28, 1946.

H. DBRIN l 2,400,982

MAGIGIAN S DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1945 .l n.; d 30 32 i Z/ ZA /aI 15 /laIZ .f3-m E' 1 50 .l5 .[6 l /g if@ 4" Y "Z4 '45 i6 [0A f i/ iH 50INVENTOR.

I vIll" ATTORNEY Patented May 28, 1946 UNITED STAT f MAGicrANs DEvIolf lw Harry Dwobrn, New York, N. Y. Application `Jarman' 13, 194.5, serialNo.` 572,646'

k8 Claims.

.The present invention relates to magicians devices and moreparticularly to devices such as, for example, a slate of specialconstruction adapted for use by magicians or mentalists in executingtricks or feats of mind reading.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improvedlocking or holding means for the foldable concealing part of a panel ofa magicians or mind readers slate or similar article. In` one form ofthe invention, the panel of the device has a Writing-surface part nor-`mally concealed by the movable part of the panel, while Vin another formof the invention the panel is provided With a mirror which is normallycon-y cealed by the foldable part of the panel.

Theabove and other objects, features Yand ad vantages of the presentinvention will be fully understood from the following descriptionconsidered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a magicians slate embodying the presentinvention, portions of the frame being cut away for the purpose ofillustration;

Fig. 2 is a sectional viewon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and shows in dottedlines an intermediate position of the foldable or concealing part yofthe panel; y

Fig. 3 isA a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;,v

Fig.1 4 is a sectional View on the line 4- 4 of Figli;

Fig. 5 is la fragmentary plan view `of a magi,-k cans slate providedwith a concealable part.

Referring now to ,the drawing in detai1th,e device I0 embodying thepresent invention consists as here shown of a framed slate ofa sizewhichcan be conveniently manipulated Vby the, magician or mind readerandjconveniently Aheld in one of his hands while he writes with hisother' hand on either side of the slate in the view ofthe audience. Theframe ofv the slatecomprisesthe opposite side members I2 andthe oppositeend `members I4 and I6, respectively. Said frame is4 provided with aninternal peripherally continue ous groove I8 within Awhich the panelindicatedv as a whole by the numeral 20 is slidably mounted,

the marginalside and edge portions ofthe panel being overlapped at bothsurfaces thereof byv the frame members. It will be understoodthat panel2l] is yslidable longitudinally of vside members I2 of. the frameindirectionstoward Vand the same area as thepanel, said backing memberbeing formed of suitably stiff cardboard as in the, usual slate of thetype to which this inventionrelates. One side surface of backing member22 of the panel is completely covered by a sheet or layer `24 ofslate-simulated material, whereby said side of the panel is providedwith a blackv Writing surface. Said sheet 24 consists of thin cardboardcoated on its outer surface with silicate paint, .said `coatingproviding the Writing surface, the inner surface` of= sheet 24 beingadhesively secured to the adjacent surface of backing member 22. Theother sideof w, the panel forthe full width of said-sheets. Part 26ofthe one `of the sheets is adhesively secured tothe adjacentl surfaceof `backing member' 22 except at the portion thereof which overles atransversely extendingrecess 38 `which is pro vided in backing `member22 `by removing a pore tion of the material thereof. Recess 38 extendsfor the full width of the backing member as indicated by the laterallyspaced dotted lines 38A in Eig. l. Sheet parts 28', 3! and 32 are freefrom f direct securement to4 backing member 22, and

. atv

sheet parts 28 and 32 4are adhesively united to veachother insurface to`surface relation and form the foldable member` or panel part 46.Reinforcing strips 42 and 44 of thin sheet metal aresecured adhesively,preferably byrubber cerecess 38 vand are positioned.- in said recess,said reinforcing strips extending for the full width of the sheet partsA26 and 30 transversely of the panel. Recess38 eliminates the formation`of a bulge in the panel at the fold lines 34, 36, and

strips 4,2 and 44, besides reinforcing sheet parts away fromI endmembers I4 and I6 of the frame.-`

than the panel proper lwhereby said foldable Panel 20 comprises abacking member 22 of 26 and 28, aid in defining the fold line of movablepanel part 40 and also provide a firm backingfor the portions of theWriting surface of the panel-which are positioned over recess 38.

Foldable member 40 of the panel is narrower member is movable from adown folded position at one side of the fold or hinge line of saidmember to a down folded position at the other side of said fold line.More particularly, the width of folding member 40 is approximately equalto the distance between the confronting inner edges IZA of side panelmembers I2. When foldable member 4B is in one of its down foldedpositions, for example, that illustrated in Fig. 1, in which it overliessheet part 30, the corresponding part of the panel is Vconcealed bysaidfoldable vmember and ysheet parts 26 and 28 appear as a con-`tinuous surface of the slate, fold line 34 being substantially invisibleexcept upon close inspection. On theother hand, when foldable member 40is positioned in its other down folded posifoldable panel part iscorrespondingly large, said part can be stiifened by strips of thinsheet metal disposed between the parts 28 and 32 at the side and topmarginal edge portions thereof and secured in position by rubber cementlor any other suitable adhesive.

In either of the down folded positions of foldable member 40, it is heldor locked releasably inY down folded position by the overlapping edgeportion of frame member I4 or frame member I6. Thus, as illustrated inFig. l foldable member 40 is received in the groove of end frame memberI6 and is thus releasably locked or held in down folded positionyinabutting'surface relation to sheet part 3ll.V On the other hand, whenfoldable member 40 is down folded against sheet part 26, the marginalendportion of said foldable member is positioned inthe groove oftheother end frame member I4 r and is thus releasably locked or held insaid down folded position. When it is desired to release foldable member46 from one of its down folded positions in which it is retained by thecompanion or adjacent frame member, panel as a whole is shifted or slidin the grooves of side frame members I2 toward the 'opposite end framemember sufficiently to release the foldable member to permit the pivotalmovement thereof to its other down foldedposition, after Which panel 20is slid in the opposite other down folded position thereof, part 3Dmoves longitudinally of the frame in the grooves of frame members I2,this movement being pcssible because said part is not secured to theunderlying surface of panel member 22. In the case of large slates, itis advisable to reinforce part 30 by a sheet of thin metal secured byrubber cement or in any other suitable way to the under surface of part3B.

Notches 46 are provided in sheet parts 26 and 30 at the opposite ends ofthe fold line of panel member to improve the foldability of panel part40. Further as here shown, strips 48 of thin `cardboard are provided atone side of the panel,

said strips terminating short of the adjacent end framemembers I4 and I6'so that a small amount ofrclearance. is provided in the correspondingdirection to permit the free end of foldable member 46 to slide into thegroove in the adjacent end frame member, and finally the 'panel 20 ismoved towards said last mentioned frame member so as to engage the freeend of the foldable member in the groove of the frame member. will benoted that the device of the present invention has a Vdouble locking orretaining construction for the foldable member or panel part 40 of theslate, while at the same time, the panel 20 can be easily manipulated tofacilitate the movement of panel 40 by the magician or mentalist toeither of its down folded and locked positions, and it will beunderstood that this shifting of the foldable panel member 40 can bereadilyaccomplished by the magician or-other person having the usualdexterity and skill without detection by the 'audience during theperformance. When panel part 4U is pivotally moved from one down foldedposition to the Thus, it

hesively united sheet portions of the'grooves of side members I2 toenable the manipulator of the slate to press the end portion of thepanel transversely of the plane thereof in said portions of the groovesto facilitate the entrance of the free end portion of the foldablemember 48 in the groove of the adjacent end frame member `during theoperation of locking said foldable mem-ber in the groove of said endframe member. 'Reinforcing strips 49 are secured to the marginal sideportions of sheet part 26 to compensate for the additiona1 thickness ofone sheet part of the foldable member 46.

It will be understood by users of devices of the type to which thisinvention relates that the slate I0 can be used in performing varioustricks of the kind performed by magicians or mentalists in presentingmind reading` performances or in performing other feat's or tricks. Ingeneral, it

' I Will be understood that preliminary to the giving of theperformances, various numbers or other Writings are applied by chalk tothe outer surfaces of'either the portions 38 and 32 or the portions V26and 28, the outer surfaces of portions 26 and 28 being blank wheneitheriportion 30 or 32 or both of said last mentioned portions havewriting thereon and portions 30 and 32 being blank when either portions26 or 28 or both of said last mentioned portionsl have Iwriting thereonso that when foldable member 4U is in one of its down folded positions,the writing is concealed by said foldable member, later to be uncoveredat some point of the peformance of the trickor feat, by moving thefoldable meinf ber to its other down folded position.

In the form of the inventionillustrated Fig. 5, the device IOA is of thesame constructionjas the device I0 except'thata plane mirrorV 50 isadhesively secured to a part of panel member 22A in position to beconcealed by the foldable member 40A which is of the samegconstructionas the foldable member 40 of the device I0. In otherv words, indevice10A sheet portion 30. is omitted and foldable member 40A consists ofYad- Y portionsr28A and 32A which correspond to'sheet portions 28 and 32,respectively, of device I8, sheet portion 28A being integralwith sheetportion 26A which corresponds to shetrportion 26 of device Ii). The foldline of foldable member 40A is indicated at 34A and corresponds to thefold line 34 of device I0. The frame of device IDA is the same as theframe of the device I0 andv except for the differences hereinbefroredescribed, panel 20A of device I 0A is the -same as panel 20 ofdeviceI0, panel 20A being slidable'in the frame in the manipulation of thedevice for releasably locking foldable member 40A in either of its downfolded positions in the -same way described above' with' reference'` tothemaline extendingtransversely of said backing memd ber close tosaidsurface portion thereof and havnipulation of the device forreleasably locking foldable member 40' of device I0 in either of thedown folded positionsof foldable member 46. In Fig. 'the foldablememberllA is in the position in which the mirror is exposed for use bythe magician or mentalist in performing the trick or feat of mindreading, but normally when the device is in a: position in Which it canbe seen'by the audience-foldable member 40A is in its other. down foldedposition in which it completely conceals the mirror.- Thus, as Will bereadily understood, device IBA constitutes a Writing slate provided`with a concealed mirror. It Will be'understood that theouter surface ofmirror 59 is substantially ush or raised but slightly above the adjacentsurface of panel member 22A.

It will be understood that various changes 'in the details ofconstruction and in the arrangement ofparts" may be made in the devicesof the present invention Without departing `from the underlying videathereof Within the scope of the appendedolaims.

Having thus described myV invention, what I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

i l. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a Writingpanel slidably mounted in said frame,` and a iiat member foldablyconnected to said panel along a line close to one surface of said paneland extending transversely of i said surface medially thereof, saidfoldable member being movable from onedovvn folded position in whichVit' overlies and conceals a portion of said surface at one side of saidmedial line to a dovvn` folded position in which it overlies a portionof said surface at the other side of said medial line, and exposes saidfirst mentioned surface portion, both surfaces of said foldable memberhaving the panel surface portions, said foldable member being releasablyengageable Withsaid frame by sliding said panel in said frame forreleasably retaining said foldable member in either of said down foldedpositions thereof. 2. An article of the character described comprising aframe having internally grooved side and end members, a writing panelmounted in said frame and having its-marginal edge portions slidable insaid grooves, and a fiat member foldably connected to said panel along aline close to one surface of said panel and extending transverselythereof between said side members of the frame, said foldable memberbeing movable from one down folded position in which it over- `samesurface appearance as at least one of said lies and conceals a portionof said surfaceat one side of said line to a down folded position inwhich it overlies a portion of said surface at the other side of saidline, and exposes said first mentioned surface portion, both surfaces ofsaid foldable member having the same surface appearance as at least oneof said panel surface portions, the outer end portion of said foldablemember being receivable in the groove of either of said end members bysliding the panel in the grooved side members of the frame whereby saidfoldable member is releasably'held in either of said downV foldedpositions by said end frame members, respectively.

3. An article of the character described comprising a Writing panelhaving a backing member, a layer of sheet material `having a partsecured to and covering a surface portion of said backing member, saidlayer of sheet material having an integral foldable part free fromseourement to said backing member, said foldable part being' foldablyconnected to said secured part along a ing one surface continuous withthe outer surface Vof said secured part, and a layer of sheet materialhaving a part secured to the other surfaceof said foldable: part; said.last mentioned layer having an integralpart positioned in overlyingcovering relation to vsaid backing member iin movable relation thereto,the first mentioned part of said last mentioned layer being foldable asa unit with Said other foldable'part at said transverse line 'andconstituting a foldable member movable at said transverse `:fold linefrom one downfolded 'positief/rat one side of said line in which itoverliesand conceals the outer surface portion ofthe secured part of therst mentioned layer toa down` folded 4position at 4the other side ofsaid transverse-line for concealing said backing-covering part of saidlast mentioned layer,ithe 'exposed' surfaces of said layers having thesame surface appearance, and means for releasably holding said foldablemember in either of said down folded positions thereof.

4. An article of the character described comprising a writing panelhaving a backing member, a layer of sheet 'material having a partsecured to and covering a surface portion of said backing member, saidlayer of sheet material having Van integral foldable part free fromsecurement' to saidv backingmember, -said foldable part beingfoldablyconnected to said secured part along a line extendingtransversely of said backing member closev to saidsurface portionthereof and having yone surfacecontinuous With the outer surface of saidsecured part, and a layer of sheet material having a part secured to theother surface of said foldable part, said last mentioned layer having anintegral part positioned in overlying covering relation to said backingmember in movable relation thereto, the rst mentioned part of said lastmentioned layer being foldable as a unit with said other foldable partat said transverse line and constituting afoldable member movable atsaid transverse fold line from one down folded position at one side ofsaid line in which it overlies and conceals the outer surface portion ofthe secured part of the first mentioned layer to a down folded positionat the other side ofsaid transverse line for concealing saidbacking-covering part of said last mentioned layer, the exposed surfacesof said layers having the same surface appearance, and a frame` havingside members either of said down folded positions thereof.

5. An article of the character described comprising a writing panelhaving a backing member, a layer of sheet material having a part securedto and covering a surface portion of said backing member, said layer ofsheet material having an integral foldable part free from securement tosaid backing member, said foldable part being foldably connected to saidsecured part along a line extending transversely of saidbacking memberclose to said surface portion thereof and having one surface continuouswith the outersurface of said secured part, and a layer of sheetmaterial having a part secured to the other surface of said foldablepart, said last mentioned layer having an integral part positioned inoverlying covering relation to said backing member in movable relationthereto, the first mentioned part of said last mentioned layer beingfoldable as a unit with said other foldable part at said transverse lineand .constituting a foldable member movable at said transverse fold linefrom one down'folded position at one side of said line in which itoverlies and conceals the outer surface portion of the secured part ofthe first mentioned layer to a down folded position at the other side ofsaid transverse line for concealing said backing-covering part of saidlast mentioned layer, the exposed surfaces of said layers having thesame surface appearance, means stiffening and reinforcing said layers ofsheet material adjacent said fold line, and means for releasably holdingsaid foldable member in either of said down folded positions thereof.

6. A device of the character described comprising a panel having abacking member, a mirror carried by said backing member at one sidethereof and covering a surface part thereof, a layer of sheet materialat said side ofthe backing mem*- ber and secured to an adjacent surfacepart of said backing member, and a foldable member foldably connected tosaid layer of sheet material along a line close to the surface of thebacking member at said side thereof, said foldable member being movableat said fold line from a down folded position in which it covers andconceals said mirror and appears as a continuation of said layer to adown folded position in which it overlies said layer and exposes saidmirror, and means for releasably holding said foldable member in eitherof said down folded positions thereof.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a panel having abacking member, amirror carried by said backing member at one sidethereof and covering a surface part thereof, a layer of sheet materialat said side of the backing member and secured to an adjacent surfacepart of said backing member, and a foldable member foldably connected tosaid layer of sheet material along a line close to the surface of thebacking member at said side thereof, said foldable member being movableat said fold Yline from a down folded position in which itV covers andconceals said mirror and appears as a continuation of said layer to adown folded position in which it overlies said layer and exposes saidmirror, and a frame having side members in which said panel is mountedandfend members releasably engageable with said foldable member in saiddown folded positions, respectively, thereof for releasably holding saidfoldable member in either of said down folded positions thereof.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a frame, a Writingpanel slidably mounted in said frame, and a nat member foldablyconnected to said panel along a line close to one surface of said paneland extending transversely of said surface medially thereof, saidfoldable member being movable from one down folded position in which itoverlies and conceals a portion of said surface at one side ofsaidmedialline to a down folded position in which it overlies a portionof said surface at the other side of said medial line, and exposessaid'rst mentioned surface portion, said two panel surface portions andboth side surfaces of said foldable panel member having the same surfaceappearance.

HARRY DOBRIN.

